Warnings? Not really for this chapter, beyond me keeping the title of co-president of the Evil Author's Club. On the plus side, you get a few explanations and Sandy - finally - shows up.

Chapter 14: An Engagement of Convenience

Sanderson ManSnoozie aka the Sandman – or Sandy to his friends – viewed time as simplistic and complicated all at once. He was living in the Now. Everything prior to Now was Before, and everything that had yet to happen was Later. Simple and very easy to understand. It was measuring time, as non-stars were prone to do, that confused him. As a former wishing star pilot, he did comprehend the concept of using a loop as a measure. He'd had a set pattern to follow and it was easy enough to note how many loops he'd gone through, but that was highly subjective and he knew it, which was why he found other loops being used as a measure of time so confusing. Years, for example, didn't make sense to him because apparently a year was how long it took a planet to circle its star, but each planet took a different amount of time to circle a star. He guessed it was a reference to the planet they were currently on, except humanity's idea of a year didn't match how long it actually took their planet to circle their star.

Months were even worse, or there would be no such thing as a blue moon. How could a measurement of time based on the movement of the Moon have two full moons? And why would it turn the Moon blue? It mystified Sandy. Days were also something that baffled Sandy. He followed the setting sun and the sun was always setting somewhere, so how could you measure time based on when it rose? The closest Sandy got to divining human time was seasons. When it started getting cold in the area called the Northern Hemisphere, it was probably getting close to Nicholas St. North's holiday, which had a rather arbitrary date as far as Sandy was concerned. Why that day? What made it that particular day and not some other day? Surely any other day would work just as well. At least Aster's holiday was based on the movement of the Moon and when the season of Spring was likely to begin in the Northern Hemisphere, which was much more comprehensible to Sandy, if just barely.

No, Sandy preferred his way of keeping time as it made much more sense than things like seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years. He had been a wishing star pilot Before, he was the Guardian of Dreams Now and Later... Well, he didn't know, but that was Later and not worth worrying about Now. And right Now, he was sending out sweet dreams and being hailed by one of North's yeti. Being approached by a yeti wasn't that odd to Sandy, who by now was used to having his friends send out someone to find him when they desired his presence Now in a non-emergency situation because their idea of Later and his didn't mesh. Sure, they could specify they wanted him to visit on the tenth at six o'clock sharp, but the tenth of what? And six o'clock sharp where? Easier to just send someone to fetch him Now than to specify a Later that made no sense to Sandy at all.

And that was why, not much Later, Sandy was Now in North's Workshop, enjoying plenty of eggnog and these really remarkable cookies that had a sandy texture to them while listening in alarm to a very odd story indeed. North himself was explaining most of what was going on, but the two the story was about were also present, as was Mother Nature herself and the wizard Ombric.

"I still don't entirely understand what you mean by 'tangling the oaths'," the Overland who looked older but actually wasn't – and wasn't that confusing? - admitted, her brow furrowing.

"Ah, well, you see, my dear," Ombric explained, "The way things stand, breaking the oath is far too dependent upon Pitch's actions. Thus, the best thing to do in the meantime to keep Jack safe would be making it impossible for his terms to come into effect and the best way to do that would be another oath. To have a binding oath be unfulfillable thanks to another binding oath is known as tangling because the more oaths involved the harder it is to fulfill the oaths without breaking one, not unlike having to cut a knot."

"Nightlight thought a star-binding may help," North added, "but he is lacking full knowledge of what it is. What do you think, Sandy?"

What did he think? Were Aster and Toothiana involved as well?

"No, I'd rather no one else knew. Too many people are involved in this already," Mother Nature insisted.

"Wait, wouldn't having more people involved help things?" Jack asked. No, no it wouldn't, Sandy knew, and he quickly shook his head and formed an X over his head with his sand, much to the Overlands' confusion.

"Why not?"

"You have not dealt with many spirits, so you wouldn't know this, but nature spirits are very... demanding," Mother Nature attempted to explain. "There is a very strict hierarchy. I am at the top because I can step in temporarily for any other nature spirit or sprite in existence. Directly under me are the Four Seasons, who represent all aspects of their season. It is a powerful position, and one much coveted."

"Then how did I get it? I mean, I'm Winter, right? That makes me one of the Seasons, doesn't it?"

"It does," Mother Nature confirmed, "And you gained it mostly by necessity. All spirits take on aspects of what they truly represent. Most spirits associated with Winter tend to focus on the fact Winter is cold and thus are often very cruel. Giving the power of a Season to a cruel spirit is just asking for trouble. MiM assured me you were perfect for the job so I allowed it and, I must admit, you exceed my expectations. The problem is, with your current predicament, the other nature spirits will not see it that way. They will see 'human' and think 'weak'. The winter spirits try to eliminate any of their kind they consider powerless and you would not long survive if they thought they could kill you. Worse, the other nature types will see what they think is a cruel winter spirit that has been handicapped and would think they'd be doing everyone a favor by getting rid of you."

"So I'm basically a sitting target? Great, thanks so very much."

"It's not that bad, Jack. Well, it is, but it won't be," Ombric insisted.

"Oh, yeah, and why's that?" Jack countered.

"Because the nature spirits recognize and greatly respect strength. And whatever they might think when they look at you right now, you are not weak. You are Winter and all that entails. That is why you were not bothered as a new spirit."

"Wait, what?"

"Did you not think it was odd that you didn't see any other spirits your first year? Every spirit connected to nature in some way in existence knew you had been chosen, so it was not ignorance that kept them away from you. It was fear."

"Fear?" Jane asked incredulously when her brother just gaped.

"A new Seasonal is not something any spirit wants to tangle with," Ombric offered. "They already have all of the powers they will have, but none of the control. Accidentally upsetting or angering someone who can cause a flood or a blizzard or an earthquake is a bad enough idea; doing so to someone whose powers are on a hair-trigger is worse."

"Indeed. Jack Frost with his full power behind him is not someone they will consider messing with – unless they have a reason to believe he can't bring his full power to the table in a fight."

"Like right now," Jack said, slumping. "Okay, so no other spirits. At least not nature spirits. But why not the other Guardians? Or other types of spirit? There are other types, right?"

"There are, but most spirits are connected to nature in some way. Finding one who isn't is rare. North here, for example, is rather closely associated with Winter, despite not being a nature spirit and the fact his holiday falls during a time that is Summer to half of the world. We are also in a position where the more people who know, the harder it will be to keep this a secret. Santoff Claussen and its people and spirits are relatively isolated and thus not much of a concern, as is the Workshop and its inhabitants. However, Aster is too closely connected to Spring for my sense of peace. Toothiana is not connected to nature, but her fairies are everywhere and far too chatty. Best if they don't know. Honestly, if not for Sanderson's silence and the fact many of the spirits under me lack the patience to try and comprehend him, I wouldn't have agreed to allow his involvement either," Mother Nature primly explained.

Sandy was affronted and quickly made an image of a key locking a box up tight and then throwing away the key.

"Yes, we know you won't tell anyone, Sandy," North quickly assured him, "but back to star-binding. Do you think it would help?"

Yes. No. Maybe? It depended on how they used it. And if the star involved didn't mind being used. Having the power of a star behind a binding was powerful indeed. In fact, the binding Pitch had corrupted in order to trap the Overlands was based off of star-binding. No, the problem was the main purpose behind a star-binding, which Sandy was having some trouble getting across if the confused looks at his sand pantomime were anything to go off of. Then a glimmer of understanding made Jack straighten up from where he'd knelt to better view Sandy's show.

"Wait! Wait, wait, wait. I want to make sure I'm getting this right. I would have to get married?"

Yes! Sandy nodded, and then quickly shook his head because, No! There were various types of star-bindings but the only one Nightlight wouldn't have full knowledge of – and wouldn't until he was ready and capable of making well-formed long-term decisions – and was likely to do them the most good was basically a wedding oath between stars. But it wasn't Jack who would need to be involved in the oath.

"Me?" Jane said, surprised, when she realized Sandy was pointing at her. Sandy nodded and smiled at her. Then came the long and convoluted explanation of what star-binding between a star and non-star meant. Jane was quite red and looked very embarrassed once Sandy finished, although Sandy couldn't think of why. Stars – which was basically a word to describe a very diverse group, not unlike the words canines and felines – didn't reproduce the same way mortal creatures did. Actually, Sandy didn't know how mortal creatures reproduced. He had that information categorized under "Stuff I don't know and don't need to know." Still, he'd given enough sweet dreams involving impatient older siblings finally being able to play with their new younger sibling that he had a pretty good idea that mortal young spent some time inside a parent, even if he didn't know how they got there or how they got out, and stars didn't do that at all.

"So you're saying it would make her immortal?" Jack asked, focusing on the more pertinent information.

Functionally so, yes. She'd live as long as whoever she star-bonded with. That was the point, because otherwise mortal (and even immortal) lives were but a blink or so of Now between Before and Later. Of course, very few mortals or immortals liked to live that long and sometimes love didn't last, sad as it was, which is why the star-binding allowed either party to leave at any time. But because both entering and leaving was so easy for the parties involved, it was literally impossible to break from the outside. And Jane wouldn't have to live as long as the star, either, just long enough for Pitch's terms to be unfulfillable. They just had to find someone willing.

That bit of information brought the entire discussion to a halt. Mother Nature looked unimpressed by the looks the males in the room were giving each other.

"Oh, don't everyone offer all at once," Jane responded acerbically to the silence. "Although I shouldn't be surprised that now it's not only possible, but necessary for me to marry, I'm far too old to be interesting."

"Not true, Miss Jane. You are very lovely woman, and best baker I have ever met," North gallantly replied.

"Then why don't you marry her?" Jack asked, his expression not quite a smirk but expectant nonetheless.

"Jack!" Jane scolded.

"What? You need to get married, North's an immortal spirit so you'll live a long time, and don't tell me it's because you want to be in love first. You didn't love any of your other suitors, but the reason you didn't marry any of them had nothing to do with your feelings and everything to do with whether or not they'd put up with me. And North's been doing a pretty good job of putting up with me."

"Still, just demanding he marry me-"

"Jack is right," North interrupted before Jane could get anymore wind in her sail. "There is no reason why I cannot and many reason why I should." He startled everyone by suddenly kneeling in front of her and taking her hands. "Miss Jane Overland, will you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?"

Jane just sat there, blinking in shock, until Jack nudged her, making her jump.

"I... uh... Yes."

After everyone recovered from their stunned surprise – and North got Sandy to reluctantly agree to officiate over his objections that it was a bit more complicated than that – the Workshop immediately turned towards wedding preparation. It was going to be big and grand because of course North wouldn't settle for anything less. Even Jane was starting to get into it, babbling about the kind of cake she wanted to make as elves and yeti surrounded her with various fabrics to choose for the dress. Of course, the preparations meant the wedding wouldn't take place immediately. Even yeti ingenuity couldn't manage that, especially with elves underfoot. Thus Mother Nature departed to attend to her duties and Ombric left to remind the inhabitants of Santoff Claussen to be very careful when talking about the human boy who'd visited over the winter.

North had managed to nab Sandy before he took off as well and asked the dream-giver to stay so a yeti wouldn't have to be sent out to find him once everything was ready. Sandy had agreed and was currently drowning himself in eggnog and having an increasingly incomprehensible conversation with Jack. Jack, for his part, was rather enjoying his new game. Talking with Sandy was like a puzzle to begin with and while Jack was getting better at it, the difficulty level kept increasing the more inebriated Sandy became. Jack also kept up with it because the little man seemed overjoyed Jack hadn't gotten bored and wandered off mid-conversation. Eventually, however, Sandy drifted off to sleep and didn't wake up immediately after and Jack realized it was late enough he should be in bed as well.

"Hey, Sandy," Jack said, gently waking the little man, "I'm going to head to bed. You probably should too. I bet North's already got a room ready for you."

Sandy nodded sleepily before suddenly brightening and letting Jack know he wanted to give Jack a sweet dream.

"Yeah, sure! Just let me get ready and into bed first. I'd rather fall asleep there than the floor." Sandy readily agreed and they parted ways soon after, Jack to get ready for bed and Sandy to make sure he did indeed have a room set aside for his use.

The room North had granted Jack the use of was much larger and grander than anything Jack had ever slept in before and it actually made him slightly uncomfortable, so unused to such things he was. Between the moving and the heat sickness, he'd gotten used to a small mattress stuffed with straw and homespun blankets placed on the floor in a cramped but cool room with the small chest they kept clothes in maybe close at hand. The guest room, in comparison, was big and and bright and airy and the furniture included a soft bed big enough to hold an entire family, a set of comfy chairs, some bedside tables, and a wardrobe big enough to hold North himself and still have room for half a yeti.

Jack... well, he didn't hate it, but he definitely didn't like spending a lot of time in the room. And he hadn't dared mention it to North because what kind of guest complains that their room is too nice? And maybe it was his imagination but since everything was nice and bright, the shadows seemed darker and crisper in contrast. Which is why he threw wide open the doors on the wardrobe, letting the light penetrate the darkness it held alongside the clothes. Thankfully, Jack didn't own many clothes, even after their clothing had been fetched and despite the tendency for new outfits sized to fit him perfectly randomly appearing in the wardrobe, so it was easy to make sure nothing was lurking in any remaining shadows. Once he was satisfied, Jack proceeded to quickly change into a clean white nightshirt and then to dim the lights down to a single candle in a stand on the bedside table.

Jack was sitting on the bed, tracing a pattern on the quilt while waiting for Sandy when it happened. The candle's flame guttered and nearly flickered out entirely but no breeze moved in the enclosed room. The Wind was outside and had remained so even after Mother Nature had left and it suddenly started to wail in alarm at the closed windows and around the corners of the complex. More sounds clamored, distant from the halls the guest rooms were in. And in Jack's room, the wardrobe door creaked open just a crack.

The door wasn't able to get any farther before Jack took a flying leap at the wardrobe, slamming it shut from the force his body hit it with, and he pressed desperately against it as whatever monster that was inside pounded insistently at the doors, trying to get out even as Jack pressed back. The sound of claws scrabbling against the wood shredded the air even as Jack tried to grasp at the power in himself that he'd finally managed to reach after decades of trying. Then he had it and the ice formed in the cracks of the wardrobe, blocking the doors and sealing it shut. The wardrobe jumped and something snarled, but the ice held, letting Jack feel secure enough to step back and wonder what was going on. This wasn't supposed to be happening! They were supposed to be safe here!

"Ja~ack. Oh, Ja~ack. Where are you, Jack? I've been looking for you," that voice, like a whisper in a funeral home, loud in the sudden dead silence, echoed around the room. Jack bolted for the door, only to find it wouldn't budge, no matter how he tugged. A sudden knock on the door scared Jack, making him leap back at the sudden noise in alarm. Then a stream of golden sand slid under the door and formed an question mark.

"Sandy? Sandy! He's here, Sandy! Pitch is in the Workshop and I can't get the door open!" Jack yelled as he went back to trying to unsuccessfully yank open the door by any means possible. The sand formed an exclamation point before sliding away and Jack became aware of Sandy trying to break down the door from the other side to no avail.

A loud creak made Jack whirl around, pressing his back to the wall beside the shaking door as Sandy continued to batter it. The candle barely lit the room with its flickering light, but it was still perfectly possible to see the doors of the wardrobe standing wide open, grooves left on the inside of the doors where fingernails had scratched and bitten deep into the wood. Jack quickly took in the room, trying to see where the monster had gone, but there was nothing visible in the dim light. No monsters. No moving shadows. Nothing but a room lit by a suddenly steady flame atop a candle. Jack frowned and moved a careful step away from the wall, then two, then more as he rapidly moved to pick up the candle holder. Once he had it in his grip, he slowly turned, shining light into previously dark corners, wary of anything unexpected. The wardrobe was empty of anything except clothes, much to Jack's consternation. He grimaced and turned around, only to come face to leering face with Pitch.

"There you are," Pitch stated, sharp grin growing wider. Jack yelped and threw the candle, holder and all, at him. Pitch Black dodged and then disappeared as Jack's action made the candle go out, plunging the room into true darkness, just before a battering ram made of golden sand finally broke down the door, letting in Sandy and the light from the hallway. Jack twisted and turned, frantically trying to figure out where Pitch went even as Sandy moved to stand beside him, whips of golden sand at the ready.

"He was here, Sandy. He was just here! Where did he go?" Jack managed to get out. Sandy laid a hand on his shoulder and Jack felt himself relax at the comforting touch. He laughed and shook his head. "I must be a sight. And I'm just giving Pitch what he wants by being scared. Thanks, Sandy. We should find the others. It'll be safer if we're all together."

Sandy nodded in agreement and moved to shepherd Jack from the damaged room but, just as Jack's forward movement brought him closer to the bed, something reached out and grabbed his foot. Jack fell with a yelp and grabbed at the bedside rug even as he kicked at whatever had grabbed him with his free foot. Kicking didn't work because now the monster had both of his feet. Sandy grabbed Jack's hand and Jack clasped it back as Sandy tried to pull Jack free. The monster retaliated by getting a better grip right above Jack's knees and yanking, dragging them both underneath the bed.

The attack made by the Fearlings took everyone by surprise, as did their sudden retreat. The Globe Room and everything just off it was a complete mess, and not in just the normal chaotic way. North scowled at shambles his Workshop was in before turning to make sure Jane was unharmed. She had apparently survived the battle with nary a scratch and was currently pushing her way past the six yeti that had protectively surrounded her.

"Jack!" she shouted as she ran toward the hall the guest rooms they were staying in were located. North moved to follow her, several yeti moving to flank him. He caught up to her when she came to a halt outside Jack's room. The door had been broken down and the room was a mess. The wardrobe doors had been clawed from the inside and hung open, one on only one hinge. The bedding was rumpled, a broken candle and its stand lay on the floor, resulting in still warm wax spreading out on the wood, and the rug had been half dragged under the bed. North quickly turned the bed on its side, but nothing was under it at all. There were fine grains of golden sand caught on the rug and in the cracks of the damaged door leading to the room.

"Spread out and search for Jack and Sandy!" North ordered. The yeti quickly complied but North had the sneaking suspicion that they wouldn't find either one. The shadows had gotten what they'd come for.

Notes: Yeah, I don't think any of you were expecting any of that. And no, Jane and North aren't in love at this point in time. Jane has a mild crush and North respects her talents, but love and romance won't enter the picture until some time after things settle down a bit - which, as you might of guessed, isn't going to be any time soon.